what we need most is speed at inside linebacker. How many times have you seen Bruschi and Seau on the ground trying to make a tackle ?! They get blocked easily and cannot cover. These two would not be starting on 85% of the teams in the NFL

It's all in the inside. I know we wont, but if we got good youth back there this team's D would stand tall all day. The big difference from this game and say watching super bowl 39 is the speed at linebacker. Tedy was posessed, they were all over the place. One thing I saw last night not working was the blitz. Good as Seau is, blitzing is not his strong suit for whatever reason. Merriweather was also stopped cold a few times.

It's pretty stupid to say this team can't rush the pass, the stats IMO are inflated because the DL infront of them. However, our blitz packages aren't the same as they used to be, guys aren't getting off that block. I think speed in the front 7 would help, but if we get that we're definantly losing out on the secondary so you pick your poison.

what we need most is speed at inside linebacker. How many times have you seen Bruschi and Seau on the ground trying to make a tackle ?! They get blocked easily and cannot cover. These two would not be starting on 85% of the teams in the NFL

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Exactly what I just said. Maybe it's a strength thing? Seau's anything but slow but he's not a guy to send up the middle either.

Exactly what I just said. Maybe it's a strength thing? Seau's anything but slow but he's not a guy to send up the middle either.

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Glad we are on the same page. The offense was slow to adjust last night but the defense has been a problem since mid season.

Seau is not slow, but his change of direction (along with Bruschi) is awful. They are both not able to wrap up because offense players put little moves and those two cannot redirect. That's why they are always grabbing at legs instead of making form tackles. Teams attack the middle of the field against us all year long. Our inside linebackers are no help in pass coverage against WR's TE's or RB's. Look at how the Giants LB's pounded Welker. Our LB's cannot provide that kind of coverage (Thomas did, but shifted to OLB). Middle of the field open all day long.

3-4 inside linebackers are the hardest position to fill on this whole team. It is hard to find anyone in the NFL who is big enough, smart enough and with the instincts to play inside in a Belichick 3-4. There are no players in college who fit that description anymore.

Glad we are on the same page. The offense was slow to adjust last night but the defense has been a problem since mid season.

Seau is not slow, but his change of direction (along with Bruschi) is awful. They are both not able to wrap up because offense players put little moves and those two cannot redirect. That's why they are always grabbing at legs instead of making form tackles. Teams attack the middle of the field against us all year long. Our inside linebackers are no help in pass coverage against WR's TE's or RB's. Look at how the Giants LB's pounded Welker. Our LB's cannot provide that kind of coverage (Thomas did, but shifted to OLB). Middle of the field open all day long.

3-4 inside linebackers are the hardest position to fill on this whole team. It is hard to find anyone in the NFL who is big enough, smart enough and with the instincts to play inside in a Belichick 3-4. There are no players in college who fit that description anymore.

Rumors from Dallas is Greg Ellis wants out. If the Patriots can restructure Colvin's contract, the Patriots can hopefully sign Greg Ellis at a reasonable rate (nor more than $3.5 million per year). Thus, the Patriots outside linebackers for the 2008 NFL season could be the following:

Mike Vrabel
Rosevelt Colvin
Greg Ellis
Pierre Woods

......... with Adalius Thomas moved back to inside linebacker. Draft a couple of inside linebackers in 2008 and hopefully Oscar Lua could assist in an inside linebacker rotation.

does anyone think Goulston or Chris Long could be a merriman/demarcus ware type gamebreaker??

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Gholston definitely. Long..doubt it. i dont really understand the talk about him as an OLB in a 3-4 when he played DE in a 3-4. i dont think hes very quick in space thus..covering would be a problem and such. i do think Gholston is next in line as a very good OLB. Hes played OLB and DE..hes explosive and can absolutely dominate blockers

Gholston definitely. Long..doubt it. i dont really understand the talk about him as an OLB in a 3-4 when he played DE in a 3-4. i dont think hes very quick in space thus..covering would be a problem and such. i do think Gholston is next in line as a very good OLB. Hes played OLB and DE..hes explosive and can absolutely dominate blockers

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i didn't watch much of the championship game....but did ghoslton have a good game or was he invisible or was just taken out of the game?

does anyone think Goulston or Chris Long could be a merriman/demarcus ware type gamebreaker??

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I think players like Gholston and Long will be targeted. Such a young pass rusher would be ideal on this team because they can learn from the vets, and they will also face single coverage when teams have to account for Colvin, Thomas, Seymour, Vrabel, Green, etc. on passing downs.

With 4 picks in the first 3 rounds I expect a player like Gholston to play DE/OLB, an ILB and 2 CB's. There are some quality ILB's with size and speed in this draft and there is very good depth @ CB in this draft.

i didn't watch much of the championship game....but did ghoslton have a good game or was he invisible or was just taken out of the game?

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he was doubled a lot but had some decent pressure. Didnt stand out in a good way or bad way really. I'd say he was 1 of the Buckeyes best performers..better than the 2 other stars in Jenkins and Laurinaitis

i'd honestly prefer Colvin and Thomas on the outside and Vrabel going back inside. Its just a much better overall lineup than having Thomas whos our best pass rusher imo playing inside.

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Our best formation is Vrabel and Colvin outside and Thomas and whoever we get inside. Vrabel did get more sacks this year than any Patriot since Andre Tippett. And that doesn't even factor in the game where Vrabel almost single-handily shutdown Roethlisberger while being blatantly held on every play by not allowing his to scramble right which is his strength.